Dr. Viral Desai is a Super Specialist and a Board-Certified Cosmetic and Plastic Surgeon who also has treated hundreds of TV and film actors and actresses.
The seemingly glamorous world of plastic surgery is abound with several myths. However, plastic surgery is a lot like any other medical speciality with highly-trained physicians practising everything from reconstructive hand surgery to burn scar revisions. Here we raise the curtain on a few myths which surround plastic surgery.
- Plastic Surgery equals cosmetic surgery
Plastic surgery is a vast medical speciality that mainly comprises reconstructive surgery and cosmetic surgery. Plastic surgeons go through several years of training and certification to competently practice these surgeries. Reconstructive surgeries include replacing a missing body structure that may be lost due to burns, accidents or a birth defect. Several doctors today perform cosmetic surgeries, however for optimum results, it is best to select a Board-certified Plastic Surgeon as they have been thoroughly trained in this field.
- Plastic Surgery is expensive and only for the rich and famous.
The majority of the patients undergoing Plastic Surgery are in fact, common ordinary people. The elite undergoes these procedures and is often publicized more, thus creating this myth. Most of the procedures are easily affordable to the general public.
- Plastic Surgery is only for women
It is true that mainly women are keen on plastic surgery to improve their beauty and self-confidence. However, a recent survey shows that men are also opting for these surgeries. The top 5 cosmetic surgical procedures for men are Hair Transplant, Liposuction, Nose job (Rhinoplasty), male breast reduction (Gynecomastia) and tummy tuck.
- Plastic Surgery is scarless
Any surgery will inevitably lead to some scars. However, Plastic Surgeons specialize in giving you the faintest, almost invisible scars. Cosmetic surgeons are using very precise instruments, so they are able to place incisions strategically so that any scars left behind aren’t very noticeable.
Plastic surgeons can also use techniques like layered closures, which involve deeply embedded, dissolving stitches that are placed in regions of the body with greater tension and thicker skin. The increased pressure prevents the scar from widening during the body’s natural healing process.
Your surgeon can also use techniques like following natural skin creases to hide scars. Natural skin creases are parallel to wrinkle lines and act as camouflage to make the scar nearly invisible.
- Breast Implants can increase your chances of breast cancer
There is no proven evidence that breast implants, including silicone breast implants, cause or increase the chances of breast cancer. If the implants are of poor or substandard quality or positioned incorrectly, then they might be problematic. Hence, it is best to consider an experienced Plastic Surgeon who can give you safe and best results.
- You cannot breastfeed if you have breast implants
Breast-feeding with implants is generally considered safe. Because breast milk is considered the best thing you can feed your baby, the Institute of Medicine encourages women with breast implants to breastfeed without any worries.
- Cosmetic Breast surgery is only for women
While women undergo common breast surgical procedures such as breast reduction, augmentation or lift, men also undergo gynecomastia to reduce the size of their breast. Extra growth of male breast tissue can occur at any age which can make men feel uncomfortable. The causes for this could be certain medications, obesity or genetics.
- Liposuction helps you shed weight and cellulite
Liposuction is not a surgical procedure for weight loss. In fact, for liposuction you must be within 30% of your ideal weight and have a good muscle tone. Also, liposuction does not remove cellulite. Fiber-like tissues in the layer of skin above fat cells which are formed due to stretching of skin cause cellulite. Liposuction only helps remove the fat cells.
- Fat comes back after liposuction surgery.
Removed fat cannot come back after liposuction. At birth, the body stops producing fat cells, but they do increase or decrease in size depending on your weight. Liposuction reduces the number of fat cells from the targeted areas. Once the fat cells are removed they’re lost forever.
- Plastic Surgery is known for its anti-aging effects
While most clinics ‘market’ Plastic surgery to give you a younger look, this is a myth. Plastic surgery is not exclusively performed for reversing ageing effects, only some of its surgeries are performed for this. Many plastic surgeries are done to restore the function of some body parts or to replace some missing structures such as the face or breast tissue.
- Plastic Surgeries are for older adults
As explained previously, Plastic surgeries are not merely done for anti-aging benefits. People younger than 50 years get more than 60% of cosmetic procedures done. Only 10% of the surgeries are done in people older than 65. The most common procedure for people in the 35 to 50 age group is liposuction. For most people, Plastic surgery is an option for looking and feeling better than looking younger.
- People who get Plastic surgeries have some psychological issues.
It is a bitter notion in our society that patients who get Plastic surgeries done are often criticized or looked down upon. Research shows that people who choose cosmetic surgery for the right reasons usually feel better about themselves. They also improve their quality of life. If you are healthy, positive and have realistic expectations, Plastic surgery could be of benefit to you.
- Plastic surgery requires a long period of painful recovery
The advances in surgical techniques, anaesthesia, and pain control recently mean that for many patients, there is no significant downtime associated with recovering from general anaesthesia. Patients today get back to their daily routines much more quickly than ever before. Of course, surgical healing does take some time, but the majority of patients can expect to return to normal activities in just a few weeks.
- Botox can cause droopy eyelids.
If your Botox treatment is done properly, the risk of suffering from droopy eyelids is less than 1%. As with any potential side effect, the condition is temporary and resolves itself within a few weeks.
- Botox leaves you expressionless by freezing your facial muscles.
If too much Botox is injected in one area, one can easily lose the action of muscles of expression. However, by injecting small doses into specific muscles, one can have a natural correction of unwanted lines and wrinkles without compromising facial expressions. Patients interested in this procedure should thus select a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon based on his or her training, education, experience.
- Botox is a dangerous toxin
Yes, Botox is derived from the toxin of a specific bacteria. But it is used in very minimal doses and it has one of the most reliable safety profiles. In the hands of an experienced surgeon it can be safely administered in the prescribed doses without any harm.
- Hair Transplants result in complete permanent loss of hair from the back scalp
While hair transplants require hair grafts to be extracted from the back part of the scalp, all the hairs are not removed. Hence it does not result in baldness or bald patches in the back scalp. Hairs are removed evenly and spread out over a wide donor area. In the hands of an experienced surgeon who respects the limit of the safe donor area and follows the principles of hair restoration, permanent donor hair loss cannot occur.
- Hair transplants cause loss of sensation in the scalp
Immediately after a hair transplant, nerve sensation is reduced in the scalp, however, it improves with time. Complete sensation returns within a few weeks.
- Rhinoplasty leads to long term breathing issues
Rhinoplasty does not lead to, rather it is done to correct long term breathing problems. Initially, for the first few weeks after the procedure, the nose may feel stuffy with difficulty in breathing. This soon corrects itself as the healing completes.
- Rhinoplasty makes your nose look fake
After rhinoplasty, the shape and form of the nose change. With minor changes, the nose looks natural and like your own. However, for those who wish to have drastic changes, the nose is bound to look fake. It is important to be clear with your surgeon about your expectations and desired outcome.
